Page 17 of Walker

“Oh yeah, want to go fishing after dinner?” he asks.

“You bet I do but don’t be crying to me though when I outfish you both.” I jump off the counter and grab some bowls. I dish it out for them and make my own. They are both staring at me.

“What?” I ask.

“You’re beautiful.” Darren smiles and touches my cheek, his hand warm from holding the bowl.

“Where do you guys want to eat?” I ask.

“Couch?” Walker suggests.

We follow him to the living room. I grab a throw blanket off the back of the couch, throwing it across my bare legs.

“You know usually I would suggest we could watch a scary movie, but I think I’ve had all of the scary I can handle.”

Darren laughs. “Isn't that the truth.”

“It's hard to think he is out there right now. I hope he is caught soon and not hurting anyone,” I tell them.

Walker rubs the back of my head, weaving his fingers through my hair. “He will be, I’ll make sure of that.”

He takes a bite of the stew and his eyes fly open. “Fuck that is good.”

“Good, there’s plenty.”

My love language is taking care of people and cooking is one of those things I love to do; the enjoyment on their faces with something so small makes me happy. I love to see people happy.

“Summer, you’re not getting rid of us now with food like this,” Darren says between bites.

I laugh. “You guys are funny.” I play it off, but it doesn’t discount the fact that it made me happy.

They turn on a comedy show, none of us really paying attention just enjoying the company.

We finish eating and Darren takes me upstairs into the guest room. He pulls out a pair of sweatpants and a hoodie. “It's chilly out, see if this will work for you.” He pulls the hoodie over my head. It’s huge on me. He then pats my legs to put them in the sweatpants and he pulls them up for me.

He stands back with the sweetest smile. “I have never seen anyone as fucking cute as you.”

My face heats at his staring. “Thank you, Darren.” I touch his arm before taking his hand, not able to resist the urge to touch him.

He gets his own jacket putting it on. I make small talk as we walk to the garage where Walker is.

“Pick out the pole you want.” He points to the wall of poles. I walk over and find a reel that is closest to the one I use.

They don’t let me even carry my own pole; they carry everything themselves. “You have such a beautiful place Walker; I think I would never want to leave.” The sky is starting to get dark, the leaves falling onto the ground.

The wind blows moving the leaves on the ground causing them to slide across the lawn in front of us.

We sit down on the dock, letting our legs hang off the sides. I stare out at the water, the cool breeze seeping across my skin. “Here let me bait the hook for you.” Walker reaches for my pole.

“No way am I letting you sabotage me.” I take the worm from him and glide it along my hook, throwing my line out into the water.

Walker laughs. “I guess you’re serious about your fishing.”

Darren throws his line out and then Walker does. “Do you have any siblings, Summer?” Darren asks.

“Nope, my mom almost died having me, so they decided I was to be the only child. You?”

Walker shakes his head no and Darren does too.

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